Mechelen - Shared Mobility for Retailers
08 April 2021 - Published by Deirdre Buist
The City of Mechelen is aiming to reduce traffic and increase sustainable logistics efficiency by expanding the ‘autodelen’ shared mobility concept to include businesses in their historic centre. This latest SURFLOGH pilot kicked off at the beginning of March.
Besides those citizens already familiar with shared mobility, the City Council wants to encourage businesses to switch to a greener alternative for individual transport forms. So they are now offering a three-month, subsidised credit system to share electric delivery vans from Cambio.
Sustainable logistics covenant
Mobility and entrepreneurship are spearheads for the City of Mechelen, as we witnessed by their signing of a sustainable logistics covenant with all stakeholders in September 2020. Besides a compelling focus on cycling options, Mechelen also has a strong emphasis on shared mobility. The latter is relatively new to the business world, particularly in terms of logistic flows for small retailers.
Greener & cheaper
Councillor for Mobility Vicky Vanmarcke explains: “In line with our Covenant for Sustainable and Efficient Urban Logistics – we are taking concrete steps towards a zero-emissions urban environment. The combination of our shared mobility campaign, started in 2020, and other sustainable logistics initiatives, is strengthened by this latest SURFLOGH trial. Besides the existing subsidies for cargo-bikes, we want to convince more retailers to choose the greener and cheaper alternative. We’re lowering the barriers, offering temporary financial support to a maximum of 250 euros for those who want to cut costs and contribute to a cleaner, more liveable city. This is a unique opportunity for those who use their car for professional activities, like delivering and collecting supplies for instance.”
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The two electric delivery vans from Cambio are easily recognizable, with new labelling as part of the ‘sharing is’ campaign. We’ll keep you posted on the pilot’s progress!
Curious? Dutch readers can find more information here or visit www.delenisvooriedereen.be.
Read the City of Mechelen’s Covenant for Sustainable and Efficient Urban Logistics
